Access panel for tile ceilings



Feb. 20, 1962 G. CARLIN ET AL 3,021,929

ACCESS PANEL FOR TILE CEILINGS Filed May 15, 1958 If? 3 X /9 lZb Z 53 //a //5 m /0 m5 510 E19. EL.

3,021,929 ACCEQS PANEL FOR THE. CEiLiNGS Kenneth G. Carlin, 16 E. Cottage St. (Dorchester District), Boston, Mass, and Herbert W. Griffin, 4037 Washington St. (Roslindale District), Boston, Mass.

Filed May 15, 1958, Ser. No. 735,403 4 Claims. (Cl. 189-85) This invention relates to ceilings made of tile, such as acoustic tile, and more particularly to access panel assemblies for such ceilings.

According to present practice, when it is necessary to provide for access to wiring or piping above a tile ceiling, a prefabricated panel assembly is installed. These assemblies are rather costly and require special framing. The panels differ in appearance from the tile and often do not correspond in size. Furthermore, the framing for the access panel must be installed before the ceiling is laid, and consequently, the tile must be cut and fitted around this framework.

The general object of this invention is to provide an access panel which can be installed as the ceiling is laid, without special framing, which produces a ceiling of smooth, unbroken appearance, and which is considerably less expensive than the access panel assemblies previously used. Other advantages and novel features of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

The panel consists, in general, of a frame of the same size as one or more of the tiles, having flanges which fit into the edge grooves of the surrounding tiles. A tile similar to those used in the rest of the ceiling is laid loosely on, and supported by, the frame.

In the drawings illustrating the invention:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an access panel constructed according to the invention, the tile portion of the panel being shown partly broken away; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly in cross-section, showing the panel assembled in a ceiling.

The frame of the panel is square or rectangular and consists of four side pieces 10, 11, 12 and 13, joined together at the corners. These pieces are preferably made of Z-shaped sheet metal sections having inwardly projecting flanges a, 11a, 12a, 13a, and outwardly projecting flanges 10b, 11b, 12b, and 1317, respectively. A tile 14 rests on flanges 10a, 11a, 12a and 13a.

The tiles used to form the ceiling are of a conventional type having edge grooves along all four edges, and are mounted on T-bars which are suspended in the usual way between each row of tiles to form the frame-work for the ceiling. In FIG. 2, for example, bars 15 and 16 are two of these T-bars and have cross-pieces 15a and 16a, respectively. These bars run across the entire ceiling and are supported, for example, by conventional hangers (not shown). Tile 17 is one of the row of tiles mounted on the left side of bar 15, and tile 18 is one of the row of tiles mounted on the right side of bar 16. Tile 17 has a groove 19 in which the left side of cross-piece 15a is received, and tile 13 has a groove 20 in which the right side of cross-piece 16a is received.

The flanges 10b and 12b are also received in grooves 20 and 19, respectively, along with the cross-pieces of the T-bars. At the rear of the frame is another tile 21, which is in line with similar tiles 23 and 24 immediately behind tiles 17 and 18 respectively. Tile 21, like the other tiles, has grooves on all four edges, cross-pieces 15a and 16:: being received in the side grooves. Flange 11b of the frame is received in the groove along the front edge of tile 21. In a similar manner, another tile (not shown) is mounted on cross-pieces 15a and 16a in front of the frame, and flange 13b is received in the groove along the rear edge of this tile. The frame is thus supported on all four sides by the four adjacent tiles.

Tile 14, which rests loosely on flanges 10a, 11a, 12a, and 13a is a standard tile, initially of the same size as the surrounding tiles, with two of its edges cut off to the depth of the side grooves so that it will fit between T-bars 15 and 16. To open the panel after the ceiling is installed, tile 14 is lifted and moved to one side.

During the installation of the ceiling, an access panel of this type can be inserted, wherever desired, in place of a regular tile. The panel is of the same size as the permanent tiles and can be fitted in exactly, without any cutting or fitting of the surrounding tiles. The exposed frame flanges 10a, 11a, 12a, and are relatively narrow, for example, about inches for a 12 inch x 12 inch panel, and the frame can be painted, either before or after installation, to match the tile. The tile 14 matches the surrounding tiles and the panel is practically indistinguishable from the permanent tiles.

The frame can be made in various proportions to fit in with tiles of various sizes. If it is necessary to provide an access opening larger than that afforded by a single tile, the frame can be elongated to accommodate two tiles similar to tile 14.

The elimination of special framing around the construction opening not only eliminates discrepancies in alignment of the panel with the ceiling tiles, but also substantially reduces the cost of the installation. The only expense involved in installing the panel is the cost of the frame itself, which is a comparatively inexpensive item. The tile which is to go in the frame can be readily cut on the job from one of the ceiling tiles, and it is thus possible to provide a matching access panel for tiles of any pattern or color.

What is claimed is:

1. In a ceiling assembly composed of tiles having edge grooves and portions below said grooves; an access panel comprising a quadrilateral frame having outwardly projecting flanges received in the edge grooves of the adjacent tiles supported on the portions below the grooves, said outwardly projecting flanges supporting said frame, and said frame also having inwardly projecting flanges defining an opening, and a panel tile larger than said opening loosely supported on said inwardly projecting flanges.

2. An access panel as described in claim 1, said ceiling tiles and said frame being of a size based on a common module equal to one of the ceiling tiles.

3. In a ceiling assembly composed of quadrilateral tiles having edge grooves and portions below said grooves and arranged in rows, and supporting bars disposed one between adjacent rows, each bar having tile supporting members received in the edge grooves of the adjacent tiles: an access panel comprising a quadrilateral frame disposed between two of said bars and having oppositely disposed outwardly projecting flanges received in the edge grooves of two adjacent tiles along with the supporting members of said two bars, said outwardly extending flanges being supported by said portions of the two adjacent tiles and supporting said frame, said frame also having inwardly projecting flanges defining an opening, and a panel tile larger than said opening supported loosely on said inwardly projecting flanges.

4. In a ceiling assembly composed of quadrilateral tiles having edge grooves and portions below said grooves on all four sides and arranged in rows, and supporting bars disposed one between adjacent rows, each bar having tile supporting members received in the edge grooves of the adjacent tiles: an access panel comprising a quadrilateral frame disposed in one of said rows, said frame being composed of four Z-shaped sections each having an outwardly extending flange and an inwardly extending flange,

adjacent tiles in the same row as said frame, said outwardly extending flanges being supported by the portions below the grooves of the respective adjacent tiles and supporting said frame, said inwardly projecting flanges defining an opening, and a panel tile larger than said opening loosely supported on said inwardly projecting 1 flanges;

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Venzie Apr. 4, 1939 Dunbar Nov. 16, 1943 Church July 30, 1957 Merlino Oct. 7, 1958 Jacobsen et al Apr. 21, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Oct. 12, 1943 Canada Apr. 1, 1958 

